top of page
Daily Chizuk #1307
Parenting / Family
Satisfaction with the Small: Appreciating Undeserved Gifts
The Key to Success in Prayer
The Maharal writes that through tefila a person clings to Hashem yitbarach. The pasuk says, קרוב ה' לכל קוראיו, Hashem is close to all those who call out to Him. Tefila elevates a person and connects him to Hashem. Yet, people say they don't feel any connection. Others say they feel like tefila is a burden and they just try to quickly unload themselves of it. How can one feel the connection to HaKadosh Baruch Hu through tefila? How can one value tefila and become excited to pray?
The Gemara in Sanhedrin gives a fundamental requirement for tefila to have its full effects. המתפלל צריך שיראה עצמו כאילו שכינה כנגדו. When someone gets up to pray, he must first imagine in his mind that he is standing directly in front of the Shechina.
Each opportunity to pray is another chance to speak directly to HaKadosh Baruch Hu. Rav Yechezkel Abramsky writes, people think they are doing Hashem a favor by praying. David HaMelech said in Tehillim, ואני ברוב חסדך אבוא ביתך - It is because of Your abundant kindness, Hashem, that You allow me to stand before You in prayer. What a zechut it is that we have. Whenever we want, we can get a private meeting with Hashem.
The Chazon Ish writes, if a person can truly internalize that he is actually standing in front of Hashem when he prays, the One who can solve all his problems in an instant, the One who knows every thought that passes through his brain, and He is listening to every word, the person would get so much chizuk. He would put so much importance on every word of tefila that leaves his mouth. He would stand with the utmost honor and respect while praying, and he would have a much easier time having kavanah. This is the key to success in prayer.
If a person loses track of his thoughts while praying, he shouldn't get down on himself, rather he should say, let me refocus and start again now. And if he didn't have kavanah for an entire prayer, he should say, I can't wait for the next one, because then I will concentrate better. Every tefila is an unbelievable opportunity.
The Maharal writes that through tefila a person clings to Hashem yitbarach. The pasuk says, קרוב ה' לכל קוראיו, Hashem is close to all those who call out to Him. Tefila elevates a person and connects him to Hashem. Yet, people say they don't feel any connection. Others say they feel like tefila is a burden and they just try to quickly unload themselves of it. How can one feel the connection to HaKadosh Baruch Hu through tefila? How can one value tefila and become excited to pray?
The Gemara in Sanhedrin gives a fundamental requirement for tefila to have its full effects. המתפלל צריך שיראה עצמו כאילו שכינה כנגדו. When someone gets up to pray, he must first imagine in his mind that he is standing directly in front of the Shechina.
Each opportunity to pray is another chance to speak directly to HaKadosh Baruch Hu. Rav Yechezkel Abramsky writes, people think they are doing Hashem a favor by praying. David HaMelech said in Tehillim, ואני ברוב חסדך אבוא ביתך - It is because of Your abundant kindness, Hashem, that You allow me to stand before You in prayer. What a zechut it is that we have. Whenever we want, we can get a private meeting with Hashem.
The Chazon Ish writes, if a person can truly internalize that he is actually standing in front of Hashem when he prays, the One who can solve all his problems in an instant, the One who knows every thought that passes through his brain, and He is listening to every word, the person would get so much chizuk. He would put so much importance on every word of tefila that leaves his mouth. He would stand with the utmost honor and respect while praying, and he would have a much easier time having kavanah. This is the key to success in prayer.
If a person loses track of his thoughts while praying, he shouldn't get down on himself, rather he should say, let me refocus and start again now. And if he didn't have kavanah for an entire prayer, he should say, I can't wait for the next one, because then I will concentrate better. Every tefila is an unbelievable opportunity.
bottom of page